KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio case count for 2026 has risen to seven after a new case was reported in Karachi East District, Sindh, according to the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
The latest case brings the total number of polio cases reported across the country this year to seven, including five cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Sindh, the EOC said.
The latest detection marks the return of a reported polio case in Karachi after the city’s previous case was recorded in December 2024.
Polio is an incurable viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis, particularly in children. However, it is preventable through vaccination, and health authorities continue to urge parents to ensure their children receive polio drops during every vaccination campaign.
According to the EOC, Pakistan’s next Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign will run from November 2 to 8, 2026, targeting children under five years of age across 97 districts nationwide, including all districts of Karachi.
More than 23.9 million children are expected to receive polio vaccine drops during the campaign as part of ongoing efforts to stop the transmission of the virus and protect vulnerable children.
The EOC has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive polio drops in every campaign and complete their routine immunization schedule on time.
Health authorities have also called on all segments of society to support vaccination efforts and cooperate with frontline workers to help eradicate polio from Pakistan.
The new case highlights the continued need for vaccination coverage, effective disease surveillance and public cooperation to prevent further transmission of the virus.
